Textile is the mainstay of national economy and on the specific directive of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Ministry of Textile is working on a comprehensive strategy based on value addition to invigorate the entire cotton chain in order to double the textile exports, said Senior Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Textile Miss Robina Warsi.
She was addressing the inaugural function of DICE Textile-2016 Innovation Event at the National Textile University here. She said that Pakistan is included among top cotton producing countries of the world. Our economy is textile based and hence, value addition is imperative to re-organise this sector on modern scientific lines. She said that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is personally monitoring the overall performance of Textile Ministry and on his directive; the Ministry was engaged in compiling a new strategy based on optimum value addition of cotton chain. "It would not only strengthen the textile sector but also to enhance its share in international textile exports", she added.
Stressing the need for the expeditious development of technical textile, she said that specific needs of various sectors could be enchased by exploiting the benefits of innovation in this field. She said that industry-academia linkage is the first step towards this direction and hoped that with innovation, Pakistan would emerge as textile leader in the international markets during the coming years. She also appreciated the efforts of DICE Foundation USA for the promotion of industry-Academia linkage and said it is imperative to organise the textile sector on modern scientific lines. Ms Robina also requested the textilers to remain in touch with the Ministry and inform them about their problems so that immediate and necessary steps could be taken to redress their grievances.
Dr Khurshid Ahmed, Co-Chairman, DICE 2016 said that the modern trends are reflective of industry-academia linkage and we should also restore this missing link in Pakistan so that our industry could also compete in the international markets. Dr Tanvir Hussain Acting Rector National Textile University said that this university has focused on the development of new textile technologies in addition to the commercialisation of modern research to develop value added textile sector. He also appreciated the collaborative role of FCCI in organising the event.
Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain, Senior Vice President, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Government has fully recognised the importance of value added textile sector in national economy and a number of steps have been taken to facilitate this specific segment of the cotton chain. He said that the electricity tariff has been trimmed while gas has been ensured round the clock to the textile sector. He said that Government should also take immediate measures for the refund of exporter's claims on top priority basis. He also appreciated the proposal that Government was considering to introduce zero-rated exports from next financial year. Arshad Ali, Executive Director Higher Education Commission, Chair Person, Industry Ahmad Shafi of Crescent Mills, Farrukh Navid, Yasir Nawaz, Muzammil Sultan, Mian Muhammad Latif and Shahzad A Sheikh also addressed the meeting.
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